Indications to infliximab were luminal and fistulizing disease in 49 and 15 cases, respectively.

Clinical improvement and remission were achieved in 54 (90%) and 39 (65%) of patients, respectively, at 6 weeks.

No patient was JCV-positive at any timepoint.

EBV serology was positive for 59/60 patients (98%); EBV-PCR tests were transiently positive (>40 copies/105 Peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PBMC) in 4 (7%) patients after infliximab, but in each case were negative at subsequent time points.

All patients were negative for HHV-6, -7, and -8 at all time points.

CMV serology was positive in 42 patients (70%), but no CMV-PCR-positive patient was observed.

There was no association between concomitant treatments or clinical characteristics and viral status.

Dr Lavagna concluded that, "Our results support the safety of short-term infliximab treatment with respect to latent virus reactivation. The long-term effects of infliximab, particularly for the issue of lymphoproliferative disorders, warrant further studies with larger populations, but so far data are reassuring".